Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LIFE AT THE LAKE by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE GREEN BELOW AND THE BLUE
Last Line: THE BLUE ABOVE AND THE GREEN BELOW.
Subject(s): LAKES; NATURE; SUMMER; POOLS; PONDS;

THE green below and the blue above! --
The waves caressing the shores they love:
Sails in haven, and sails afar
And faint as the water-lilies are
In inlets haunted of willow wands,
Listless lovers, and trailing hands
With spray to gem them and tan to glove. --
The green below and the blue above.

The blue above and the green below!
Would that the world were always so! --
Always summer and warmth and light,
With mirth and melody day and night!
Birds in the boughs of the beckoning trees,
Chirr of locusts and whiff of breeze --
World-old roses that bud and blow. --
The blue above and the green below.

The green below and the blue above!
Heigh! young hearts and the hopes thereof! --
Kate in the hammock, and Tom sprawled on
The sward -- like a lover's picture, drawn
By the lucky dog himself, with Kate
To moon o'er his shoulder and meditate
On a fat old purse or a lank young love. --
The green below and the blue above.

The blue above and the green below!
Shadow and sunshine to and fro. --
Season for dreams -- whate'er befall
Hero, heroine, hearts and all!
Wave or wildwood -- the blithe bird sings,
And the leaf-hid locust whets his wings --
Just as a thousand years ago --
The blue above and the green below.



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